Weighting system for sports balls and hitting implements

ABSTRACT

Closure members are provided at the opposite ends of a hollow casing. Shock absorbers are confined within the casing by the closure members. A weight is disposed within the casing between the shock absorbers. The weight may be defined by a plurality of granules confined within an enclosure in the casing between the shock absorbers. Alternatively, the weight may be defined by a solid member. The casing may be in the shape of a baseball bat. Alternatively, a tube may be disposed within the casing and may be closed by the end caps. The shock absorbers and the weight may be confined within the tube by the end caps. The arrangement described above may also be provided in different types of balls. For example, end caps may be provided at the opposite ends of a hollow main body shaped to define the central portion of a football. Shock absorbers may be disposed with the hollow main body at positions interior to the end caps. A weight may be disposed within the hollow main body between the shock absorbers. The weight may be solid or formed from granules. Stoppers may be disposed in the hollow main body between the shock absorbers and the end caps. The stoppers may be glued at first ends to the shock absorbers and at second ends to the end caps.

[0001] The present invention relates to a ball hitting sports implementor sports ball and relates particularly, though not exclusively, tobaseball or cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, tennis racquets andsimilar products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In view of the expensive nature of ball hitting sports implementsor balls it is common practice to provide cheaper alternatives whentraining. Such implements are usually made of a plastics material, forexample, foamed or flexible or rigid polyurethane, polyethylene,neoprene or similar materials. Traditionally, such implements or ballshave lacked the necessary weight and/or weight distribution ofregulation equipment and thus do not provide a realistic and specifictraining effect of regulation equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ballhitting sports implement or sports ball made from a plastics materialwhich has the necessary weight and weight distribution to provide a moreaccurate simulation of the regulation implement or ball.

[0004] With this object in view the present invention may provide in apreferred aspect a ball hitting sports implement or sports ball havingan outer body of rubber or plastics material and an internal cavity forreception of a weighting device for said implement or ball.

[0005] In one preferred embodiment said cavity includes at least oneshock absorber abutting said weighting device. Preferably said at leastone shock absorber comprises a shock absorber abutting opposite ends ofsaid weighting device. In a further preferred embodiment a pair of shockabsorbers are provided at opposite ends of said weighting device. In apractical embodiment said weighting device is in granular form.

[0006] In yet a further preferred embodiment said weighting device isformed of a solid or hollow shock absorbing material, e.g. a resilienthigh density solid rubber.

[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, closure members are providedat the opposite ends of a hollow casing. Shock absorbers are confinedwithin the casing by the closure members. A weight is disposed withinthe casing between the shock absorbers. The weight may be defined by aplurality of granules confined within an enclosure in the casing betweenthe shock absorbers. Alternatively, the weight may be defined by a solidmember. The casing may be in the shape of a baseball bat. Alternatively,a tube may be disposed within the casing and may be closed by the endcaps. The shock absorbers and the weight may be confined within the tubeby the end caps.

[0008] The arrangement described above may also be provided in differenttypes of balls. For example, end caps may be provided at the oppositeends of a hollow main body shaped to define the central portion of afootball. Shock absorbers may be disposed with the hollow main body atpositions interior to body between the shock absorbers. The weight maybe solid or formed from granules. Stoppers may be disposed in the hollowmain body between the shock absorbers and the end caps. The stoppers maybe glued at first ends to the shock absorbers and at second ends to theend caps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] This and other aspects of the present invention will be morefully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a baseball bat made inaccordance with the invention; and

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a football made in accordancewith the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In FIG. 1 there is shown a baseball bat 10 having a hittingsection 12 and a handle section 14. A hollow tube 16 extends the lengthof bat 10. Tube 16 is preferably formed of a flexible plastics material.Tube 16 is surrounded by hitting section 12 which may be formed of asuitable plastic material, for example, foamed, flexible or rigidpolyurethane, polyethylene, neoprene or other suitable material. Tube 16is a force fit in hitting section 12. A grip 18 is applied to tube 16 toform handle section 14. An end cap 20 slides over tube 16 and is forcefitted into tube 16 by a stopper 22 integrally formed with end cap 20.At the other end an end plug 24 is forced fitted to tube 16 by stopper26 integrally formed with end plug 24.

[0013] Inside tube 16 is a shock absorber 28, also force fitted, andwhich may be formed of any suitable material, e.g. rubber. A weightingdevice 30 abuts shock absorber 28 and at the other end abuts a furthershock absorber 32. To prevent movement of weighting device 30 and shockabsorber 32, a stopper 34, e.g. rubber, is force fitted into tube 16.Shock absorber 32 may or may not have the same density or compression asshock absorber 28.

[0014] Although two shock absorbers 28, 32 have been shown, additionalshock absorbers (not shown) may be inserted if desired or required.

[0015] Weighting device 30 is preferably formed of granular material,e.g. metal, plastics or other material which is preferably contained ina thin bag or tube. Weighting device 30 can be varied in weight, sizeand position in tube 16 to allow simulation in balance, centre ofpercussion and/or centre of gravity of a regulation baseball bat.

[0016] The shock absorber 28 will absorb centrifugal forces exerted byweighting device 30 during a high speed swing by a batter. The shockabsorber 28 and stopper 32 will also dampen vibrations caused along bat10 on impact with a ball (not shown). This dampening will reducematerial fatigue from repetitive use and the probability of breakage. Inthe event of breakage the granular nature of weighting device 30 willprovide a harmless explosion of granules rather than the danger of aflying solid mass. The flexible nature of shock absorbers 28 and 32,weighting device 30 and stopper 34 substantially reduces shear stresslines in tube 18 as the whole bat 10 flexes during high speed swing by abatter and ball contact.

[0017] In variations of this embodiment tube 7 can be omitted. Bat 10can be hollow and the various components secured inside the cavityformed by the hollow nature of the bat. Weighting device 30 can also bereplaced by a high density resilient solid rubber tube which is afriction fit within bat 10 or tube 16. Such a rubber tube would notrequire shock absorbers as the rubber tube would provide shockabsorption and dampening. This rubber tube is preferably hollow butcould be solid, if required. Although the embodiments have beendescribed with reference to their application to a baseball bat it isclear that the invention can be used in other sporting implements, e.g.cricket balls, golf clubs, tennis rackets, etc.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a football 50 having a main body 52 and end caps 54,56. These components can be formed of a plastics or rubber material,e.g. foamed, flexible or rigid polyurethane, polyethylene, neoprene orsimilar material. Main body 52 is hollow for reception of shockabsorbers 58, 60. Abutting shock absorbers 58, 60 is a weighting device62 similar in construction to the weighting device 30 described withreference to FIG. 1. Stoppers 64, 66 are glued to end caps 54, 56 orintegrally formed therewith. End caps 54, 56 are glued to main body 52to complete assembly of the football 50.

[0019] Football 50 can be constructed to simulate the weight and balanceof a regulation football by varying the dampening will be similar innature to baseball bat 10 in FIG. 1. Although this embodiment has beendescribed with reference to a football the inventive concepts can beused in a range of sports balls, e.g. soccer, tennis, golf and otherballs.

[0020] It is believed that the invention and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the ball hitting sports implement orsports ball described without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, formshereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments hereof.

1. In combination to form an athletic accessory, a hollow casing,closure members at the opposite ends of the casing, shock absorberswithin the hollow casing at the opposite ends of the hollow casing incontiguous relationship to the closure members, the shock absorbersbeing confined within the casing by the closure members, and a weightdisposed within the casing between the shock absorbers.
 3. In acombination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hollow casing is in theshape of a baseball bat.
 4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1wherein the weight is defined by a plurality of granules confined withinan enclosure in the casing between the shock absorbers.
 5. In acombination as set forth in claim 1, a tube made from a flexiblematerial for holding the closure members and the shock absorbers, theshock absorbers being made from a resilient material, and a hittingsection made from a flexible material and enveloping the tube.
 6. In acombination as set forth in claim 5, the weight constituting a solidmember.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the athleticaccessory is a baseball bat, the hollow casing including a tube madefrom a flexible material and holding the shock absorbers and the closuremembers, and a hitting section made from a flexible material andenveloping the tube and shaped to define a section where the batnormally meets a ball thrown toward the bat, the weight being defined bya plurality of granules confined within the tube.
 8. In combination in abaseball bat having inner and outer ends, a hollow casing shaped toprovide a first outer diameter at the inner end of the bat and toprovide a second outer diameter at the outer end of the bat, the secondouter diameter being greater than the first outer diameter, first andsecond closure members for respectively closing the opposite ends of thebat, a first shock absorber within the hollow casing at the inner end ofthe bat, a second shock absorber within the hollow casing at the outerend of the bat, and a weight within the hollow casing at the outer endof the bat, the weight being disposed within the casing between thefirst and second shock absorbers.
 9. In a combination as set forth inclaim 8, a hollow tube made from a flexible material, the first andsecond shock absorbers and the weight being disposed within the hollowtube, and a hitting section enveloping the tube at the outer end of thetube, the hollow tube and the hitting section defining the casing. 10.In a combination as set forth in claim 9, the first and second shockabsorbers being made from a resilient material, and the weight beingformed from granules and being confined within the tube againstmovement, and the first and second shock absorbers being disposed at theopposite ends of the bat in contiguous relationship with the first andsecond closure members.
 11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,the first and second closure members being force fitted within the tube,and the first and second shock absorbers being force fitted within thetube.
 12. In a combination as set forth in claim 10, the first andsecond closure members means being force fitted within the tube, and thefirst and second shock absorbers being force fitted within the tube. 13.In a combination as set forth in claim 8, the casing constituting aunitary member made from a flexible material and the first and secondshock absorbers and the weight being disposed within the unitary memberand the casing being made from a flexible material.
 14. In a combinationas set forth in claim 13, the first and second shock absorbers beingmade from a resilient material, and the weight being formed fromgranules and being confined within the casing against movement.
 15. In acombination as set forth in claim 14, the first and second closuremembers being force fitted within the tube, and the first and secondshock absorbers being force fitted within the tube.
 21. In combinationto form an athletic accessory, a pair of flexible closure members, ahollow casing closed at opposite ends by the flexible closure members,and a weight disposed within the casing at a particular position withinthe casing, the closure member at one of the ends being initiallyseparated from the casing, and flexible shock absorbers at the oppositeends of the hollow casing in contiguous relationship to the closuremembers.
 22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, the weight beingformed by a plurality of granules confined within the casing to provideflexible properties, and the casing including a flexible tube disposedwithin the casing, the weight and the closure members and the shockabsorbers being disposed within the tube, the shock absorbers beingdisposed in contiguous relationship to the closure members.
 23. In acombination as set forth in claim 21, the weight being provided by asolid material.
 24. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, thehollow casing including a tube made from a flexible material, the casingenveloping the tube and shaped to define a hitting section of a baseballbat, the casing being made from a flexible material, the shock absorbersbeing disposed in contiguous relationship to the closure members.
 25. Ina combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein, the hollow casing is inthe shape of a baseball bat, the weight is defined by a plurality ofgranules confined within an enclosure in the casing between the shockabsorbers, the hollow casing includes a flexible tube, and a flexiblehitting section envelopes the tube and is shaped to define a sectionwhere the bat normally meets a ball thrown toward the bat.
 26. In acombination as set forth in claim 5, the shock absorbers being made froma resilient material and the tube being made from a resilient material,the hollow casing being in the shape of a baseball bat, the weight [is]being defined by a plurality of granules confined within an enclosure inthe casing between the shock absorbers, [and] the hollow casingincluding a tube made from a flexible material, and a hitting sectionmade from a flexible material and enveloping the tube and disposedwithin the casing and shaped to define a section where the bat normallymeets a ball thrown toward the bat.
 27. In a combination as set forth inclaim 9, the casing constituting a unitary member and the first andsecond shock absorbers and the weight being disposed within the unitarymember constituting the casing, the shock absorbers being made from aresilient material and the tube being made from a resilient material.28. In a combination as set forth in claim 12, the shock absorbers beingmade from a resilient material and the tube being made from a resilientmaterial.